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Tips for Writing and Researching A Policy BriefSlides from SOWK 638 Spring 2020 Library Instruction
Use the resources below to find research, legislation, and policy reports from research centers, think tanks, advocacy groups.
Finding Federal and State Legislation and Policies
Finding policies and policy information often involves strategic searching. This section includes some effective tips for finding federal and state policies:
- For FEDERAL policies in the U.S., use the website congress.gov. You can find bills by subject and policy area.
- The Congressional Record Index includes remarks and activities by Members, individuals, organizations, and legislative business mentioned in the Congressional Record.
- The United States Senate website allows you to search for legislation and records
- For STATE policies, you can do a Google search or go directly to a state's legislature website.
- In Google, include the topic and state you are looking and limit your search to .gov websites. For example: homelessness mental health California site: .gov
- The California State Senate website includes legislation being considered – legislative calendars, details on policy committees, helpful resources, live-streamed and archived videos, information on each of the Senators who represent the state’s 40 districts.
Journal and Newspaper Articles
Articles provide research and analysis of a particular topic. Journal articles are more in-depth and specialized. Newspaper articles can provide the latest information about a topic. Use the recommended resources below to find articles on your topic.
Journal Articles/Dissertations/Book Reviews |
Newspaper Articles |
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Contains current research focused on social work, social welfare, social policy and community development. |
Contains articles from local and regional news in the U.S. across publications. |
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Covers social work and social services, including juvenile justice, the war on drugs, and foster care. |
National, international and local news from 1985-present |
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Covers a broad range of subjects and issues. Includes book chapters, peer-reviewed articles and dissertations. |
Coverage of national and international news, plus coverage of important speeches and documents, Supreme Court decisions, and presidential press conference transcripts |
Finding Statistics and Data
Data is the raw information that is analyzed to create statistics, or interpreted data. Data can be numerical, or qualitative (interviews, opinion data, etc).
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Data Planet Statistical DatasetsData-Planet (formerly ProQuest Statistical DataSets) is an interactive database that allows users to create tables, maps, and figures from a variety data sources covering banking, criminal justice, education,energy, food and agriculture, government, health, housing and construction,industry and commerce, labor and employment, natural resources and environment, income, cost of living, stocks, transportation, and more.
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ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the United StatesAn annual summary publication of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States.
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ProQuest Statistical InsightInclude a detailed description of a publication's statistical contents and primary bibliographic information like title, date, collation, agency report number (if any), and periodicity.
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Sage State and US Local StatsSAGE Stats provides extensive social science data covering geographies within the United States and spans topics such as healthcare, crime, education, employment, religion, and government finances.
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StatistaStatista is one of the first statistic portals in the world to integrate data on over 80.000 topics from over 18.000 sources onto a single professional platform and providing companies, business customers, research institutions, and the academic community with direct access to quantitative data on media, business, finance, politics, and a wide variety of other areas of interest or markets.
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Roper CenterThe Roper Center maintains an archive of public opinion survey data--including the General Social Survey (1972-2008). Allows users to search survey questions or download data directly. Users will need to enter their USC email address to access data.
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National Council on DisabililityNCD is an independent federal agency charged with advising the President, Congress, and other federal agencies regarding policies, programs, practices, and procedures that affect people with disabilities.
Policy Briefs and Reports
Use these resources (databases and websites) to find background information, analysis and current developments of the policy you are researching, and for examples of policy briefs.
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CIAO:Columbia International Affairs OnlineComprehensive source for research in international affairs. Theory & research in international affairs.
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Congressional ReportsReports from the Congressional Research Service, a "think tank" that provides these reports to members of Congress on a variety of topics relevant to current political events.
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CQ ResearcherCQ Researcher is noted for its in-depth, unbiased coverage of health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, and the economy. Great source for background information on a topic.
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PAIS Indexbooks, periodical articles, government documents, pamphlets, microfiche, and reports of public and private agencies relating to business, economic and social conditions, public policy and administration, and international relations.
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Policy ArchivePolicyArchive is digital archive of global, non-partisan public policy research. Search for summaries and full text materials of think tank, university, government, and foundation-funded policy research.
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PolicyFilePolicyFile is a database of reports from think tanks, advocacy groups and research organizations addressing public policies. Note: Organizations represent diverse point of views and can be partisan. Always look at the organization's mission.
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ProQuest CongressionalSearches full-text bills, hearings, committee meeting minutes, debates, and CSR Reports.
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Social Science Research Network (SSRN)SSRN is an interdisciplinary open-access repository for pre-prints and refereed articles in the social sciences and humanities.
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Social Work Policy InstituteThe Social Work Policy Institute examines issues that relate to the work of social workers, including how to serve people who have multiple or complex needs and how public agencies and other structures deliver health and human services.
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ProCon.orgThe website's mission is to promote critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship by presenting controversial issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan, primarily pro-con format.
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Health Affairs Policy BriefsHealth Affairs is the leading journal of health policy thought and research. The peer-reviewed journal was founded in 1981 under the aegis of Project HOPE, a nonprofit international health education organization. Health Affairs explores health policy issues of current concern in domestic and international spheres. Its mission is to serve as a high-level, nonpartisan forum to promote analysis and discussion on improving health and health care, and to address such issues as cost, quality, and access.
Think Tanks, Research Centers, and Policy Organizations
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Agency for Healthcare Research and QualityThe Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) mission is to produce evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and with other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used. AHRQ priorities are described.
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Brookings InstitutionA nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC.
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Cato InstituteA public policy research organization dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace.
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Center for American ProgressThe Center for American Progress is an independent nonpartisan policy institute that is dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans, through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong leadership and concerted action.
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National Center for Children in PovertyNCCP conducts research and translates the findings into actionable recommendations that advocates and policymakers use to improve the lives and futures of low-income children and their families.
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National Institute for Research Advancement (NIRA)A directory which provides a systematic introduction to the world's most prominent and innovative public policy research institutes, better known as think tanks.
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Pew Research CenterPew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world.
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Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaThis is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to informing and improving public policy in California through independent, objective, nonpartisan research. Publishes a variety of policy reports and research studies.
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Rand CorporationThe RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous.